Portable instrument

ABSTRACT

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a portable instrument is provided having a housing and a handle coupled thereto for carrying the instrument and supporting the housing in a selected position when the instrument is laid on a supporting surface. The handle has two arms joined by a handle bar at one end thereof and each arm has a deformable journal projecting inwardly adjacent its other end. These journals mount arcuate external projections at their periphery and are rotatively received in two concentric openings in housing side walls defining each opening. Each wall comprises camming lobes separated by arcuate recesses in which the projections of the journals are accommodated to lock the handles in a firm housingsupporting position. When the handle is rotated with respect to the housing, the projections are pressed inwardly by the camming lobes and smap outwardly again when these projections come opposite to a recess to effect locking of the handle.

United States Patent [191 Andreaggi [4 1 May 28, 1974 1 PORTABLEINSTRUMENT ,loseph R. Andreaggi, Short Hills, NJ.

{73] Assignec: Weston Instruments, llnc., Newark,

[22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.1 288,608

[75] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant ExaminerAllan N. ShoapAttorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam R. Sherman [57] ABSTRACT In accordancewith one embodiment of the invention, a portable instrument is providedhaving a housing and a handle coupled thereto for carrying theinstrument and supporting the housing in a selected position when theinstrument is laid on a supporting surface. The handle has two armsjoined by a handle bar at one end thereof and each arm has a deformablejournal projecting inwardly adjacent its other end. These journals mountarcuate external projections at their periphery and are rotativelyreceived in two concentric openings in housing side walls defining eachopening.

Each wall comprises camming lobes separated by arcuate recesses in whichthe projections of the journals are accommodated to lock the handles ina firm housing-supporting position. When the handle is rotated withrespect to the housing, the projections are pressed inwardly by thecamming lobes and smap outwardly again when these projections comeopposite to a recess to effect locking of the handle.

2 53 Cla ms fifirew ns Fi l rs l to PORTABLE INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The invention relates to bails for portable instrumentsand more particularly to handles which are coupled to a housing to carryand support the instrument on a bench or other surface in at least oneselected position. 7

Portable instruments such as electrical meters are known to have ahousing and a handle coupled thereto for providing both a means forcarrying the instrument and a means for mounting the instrument in oneof several different positions on a surface. Typically, a handle forsuch instrument has two parallel arms connected by a transverse handlebar. Each arm has its end opposite to the bar rotatably coupled to oneside of the housing for rotation about a common axis. In addition topermitting holding the instrument for carrying it, the handle can beused as a leg for the instrument when it is laid down on a horizontalsupporting surface such as a table. By locking the handle in a properangular position with respect to the housing the front part of theinstrument can be inclined such that the operator may convenientlyobserve the meter display, manipulate the control knobs and makeelectrical connections to the instrument.

Typically, the handle is constituted by one or two metallic U-shapedparts both joined at the free ends thereof to each side of the housingby a bolt member having its head shaped as a knob. By rotating the knobin one of two directions the handle or handles may be selectivelyadjusted to different angular positions relative to the housing. Thistype of arrangement, although quite successful requires however theprovision of additional parts, such as the knob, for coupling the handleor handles to the housing. This may prove a rather expensive couplingsystem in the cost of both parts and labor for assembling them. Furthersuch additional parts are subject to self-loosening and may rathereasily become lost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portableinstrument having a new and improved type of coupling between a handleand a housing for supporting the instrument in a standing position on asurface.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improvedportable instrument having a housing and a handle, and a couplingbetween them which can be releasably locked in at least one position ofthe handle with respect to the housing and is relatively cheap I tomanufacture and easy to mount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention a portableinstrument includes a housing member and a handle member having twocantilevered arm portions coupled to said housing member and means forcoupling said handle member to said housing member for rotation relativethereto about an axis. These coupling means include at least one tubularportion having a resilient wall and projecting from one of said members,generally centered on said axis and mounted for relative rotation withrespect to the other of said member, and means for releasably lockingsaid handle member and said housing member in at least onehousing-supporting position. These locking means include radiallydisposed camming means on said tubular portion and said other member formeshing and locking said tubular portion and said other member againstrotation when said handle and housing members are subjected to arelative torque less than a given torque, said camming means includingat least one camming portion on said resilient wall for pressing saidcamming portion radially upon the application of a relative torque tosaid handle and housing members greater than said given torque to permitrelative rotation between said tubular portion and said other memher.The tubular portion may advantageously be received for rotation in acorresponding opening defined in the other member by an internal wall,said camming means including camming surface portions or lobes on saidwall separated by at least one recess in which said camming portion onthe resilient wall is lockingly received in the housing-supportingposition. v

Preferably, the handle and housing members can be made out of a plasticmaterial with the tubular portion integral with the correspondingmember. Camming means can be obtained by moulding on the respectivemembers and an inexpensive assembly with a rotatable adjustable handlecan thus be manufactured and mounted. The tubular portion mayadvantageously include a retaining flange portion which can be snappedby forcing it through an opening provided in the other member by elasticdeformation of the material constituting the tubular portion andengaging the flange portion past a shoulder around said opening wherebymutual engagement of the flange and shoulder will oppose withdrawal ofthe tubular portion from the opening thereby eliminating the need foradditional parts for mounting the handle to the housing other than theparticular integral coupling portions provided thereon. Also, byproviding clearances in the portions connecting the tubular portion tothe member where it projects from, adjustment may be made of theflexibility of any opposite camming portion formed on the resilient wallof such tubular portion. Preferably the tubular portion projects fromone arm of the handle adjacent the end thereof and is received in anopening in one side of said housing and a similar construction isprovided between the other handle arm and housing side. In thisarrangement, damage from breakage of one tubular portion could be easilyrepaired by simply replacing the handle, while the housing couplingportions are less subject to deterioration. Lastly several cammingportions or detents are preferably symmetrically distributed around thetubular portion for more uniform distribution of stresses therein andbetter centering upon maneuvering the handle.

Further objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of an embodiment given by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective viewof the external part of an instrument embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the handle of an instrument such asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of section 3-3 of the handle of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of section 4-4 of the handle of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of a section of the handle and housing couplingassembly of FIG. 1 by a plane containing axis of rotation of thecoupling;

FIG. 6 is a view of section 6-6 of the handle and housing assembly ofFIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT A portable instrument is shown in FIG. Ihaving a housing 1 and a handle 2 designed to be coupled to the housing1 for carrying and supporting it. The housing I encloses operatingparts, not visible, of an electrical indicating instrument to supportand protect them. This housing 1 is mainly constituted by a moulded body4 of a tough shock resistant plastic material such as glass filledpolycarbonate. Integral with the body 4 is a rectangular front panel 11designed to define a display window 12 and accommodate such controlmeans as a rotatable knob 13 adapted for example to select thesensitivity of the apparatus, and outlets such as 14 adapted to receiveplugs or jacks to connect the metering circuitry of the apparatus.Further description of the front panel 1 1 is not needed to understandthe present invention. The housing 1 also has a rear panel, not seen,parallel to the front panel 1 l, a top wall plate 16 and a parallelbottom wall plate 17, a side wall 18 having an external reinforcing rib20 extending longitudinally half way between the bottom and top edges 21and 22 thereof, and an opposite identical side wall 19. The housing 1has a greater length between front and rear edges 23 and 24 respectivelythan its width taken between the sides 18 and 19, and the distanceseparating its top wall plate 16 from its bottom wall plate 17, orthickness thereof, is substantially smaller than its width I thus givinga somewhat flattened elongated shape to the instrument as depicted byFIG. 1.

As best seen on FIG. 2 the handle 2 has two substantially parallel armsand 31 connected at ends 32 and 33 by a rectilinear bar 35. Twoidentical inwardly projecting tubular portions or journals 40 and 41 areintegrally formed with the arms 30 and 31 adjacent respective oppositeends 36 and 37 thereof for coupling the handle 2 to the housing 1 byengagement of each portion 40 into an opening 90 formed in the medianrib 20 of the housing side wall 18 (FIG. 1). Further detail on theconstruction of this opening 90 as designed for receiving the tubularportion 40 of arm 30 will be given herein after with particularreference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

As depicted by FIG. 1, the end portion 36 of arm 30 is rotatably mountedin the side wall 18 of the housing at a location slightly offset towardthe front part thereof with respect to the middle of the length of thehousing and the end portion 37 of arm 31 is mounted in a similarfashion. In the standing position illustrated by FIG. 1, the handle 2 istilted with respect to the housing 1 so as to form a supporting leg forthe front part of the instrument laid on a horizontal surface while therear part of it is supported by the lower rear edge of the housingcontacting the horizontal surface. More specifically, the arms 30 and 31of the handle form an angle with the longitudinal dimension of thehousing while the handle bar connecting these arms extends parallel tothe top and bottom plates 16 and 17. In this position the instrument hasits front panel 11 inclined on the vertical direction so as to faceupwardly in a position where reading of the indications thereof andmanipulating of control parts are made easy. The handle 2 can rotateabout axis 50 and be brought either into a different tilted positionwith respect to the housing, or in alignment with the housing, forcarrying the instrument, a

sufficient space being provided between the bar 35 and the front panel11 now facing it for holding the handle.

Each arm 30 or 31 has a flat inward face 38 while the lateral face 39thereof has a carved portion 42 separating two thicker edges 43 as bestseen on FIG. 1, which provide rigidity for the arm. The bar 35 has aseries of parallel superposed ribs 44 of decreasing width protruding onthe inward face 45 thereof to give the face 45 a profile providing ahandy grasp for the fingers of an operator holding the bar 35 to carrythe instrument (FIGS. 1 and 2). The handle 2 is of monolithicconstruction made out of a resilient mouldable plastic materialsuch as apolycarbonate. By virtue of the aforedescribed construction (FIG. 2) thehandle has a better flexibility to bending of arms 30 and 31 parallel tothe plane of FIG. 2 than perpendicularly to such plane.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a more detailed description of the tubularportion or journal 40 coupling the handle arm 30 to the housing 1 willbe given. The tubular portion 40 comprises an annular wall extension 51projecting at the end 36 of arm 30 (FIG. 4) from the inward face 38thereof in the direction of the symmetry axis 50 which can be seen forthe assembly of FIG. 1

and about which this tubular portion can be rotated once it is coupledto the housing 1. The wall 51 of this rubular portion 40 is relativelythin as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4 and by virtue of the resilientproperties of the plastic material of which the handle is made, can beresiliently depressed inwardly by applying a sufficient force on thegenerally cylindrical outer surface 55 thereof while returning itsoriginal shape upon release of the deforming force.

The tubular portion 40 defines an internal cylindrical cavity 52 havingits axis coincident with axis 50. As shown on FIG. 4, the cylindricalcavity 52 extends through the arm end 36 and has one end 54 which opensinto a coaxial circular opening 56 of greater diameter than the diameterof cavity 52 and which is formed in the lateral face of the arm 30adjacent the end 36 thereof.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tubular portion 40 is integrallyconnected to the arm 30 by three radial connecting portions 60, 61 and62 distributed around the outer surface of the annular wall portion 51and delimited by three arcuate slots 64, 65 and 66 extending parallel toaxis 50 through the thickness of arm 30 into opening 56 and havinglaterally rounded ends, as illustrated at 67 for slot 65 as shown byFIG. 3 separating connecting portions 61 and 62. As best seen on FIG. 4,these slots leave a channel-like clearance between the arm 30 and acorresponding extension 51 of the tubular wall 51 adjacent the end 54 oftubular portion 40. As previously explained, the wall extensions such as51' are relatively thin and therefore flexible whereas intermediatesections such as 53 of the tubular portion 40 are rigidly attached tothe arm 30 by the connecting portions 60, 61, 62 with which they areintegrally formed.

Opposite the arm 30, the tubular portion 40 has a free end 70 providedwith a generally transverse closure wall 71 closing the cavity 52opposite to the open end 54 thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, this closurewall 71 is not flat but of slightly conical shape pointing outwardly ofsaid tubular portion in the direction of the axis 50. The closure wall71 is integrally connected with the end rim of the cylindrical wall 51so as to define an annular flange 73 protruding outwardly around thetubular portion 40 at the end 70 thereof and which as will be explainedlater is designed for retaining the tubular portion 40 within theopening 90 of housing 1 after being inserted therein.

As depicted in FIG. 4 the flange 73 has a frustoconical surface 7 1coaxial with wall 51 and outwardly rather steeply inclined on outersurface 55 of this wall 51, facing toward the arm end 36. Facing in theopposite direction the flange 73 has a coaxial frustoconical sidesurface 75 tapering from circular crestline 73' along which bothsurfaces 74 and 75 meet toward the outer face of wall 71 forming anangle of about 30 with respect to axis 50.

Intermediate the inwardly looking surface 38 of arm 30 and the annularflange 73 a circular row of three identical arcuate projections ordetents 81, 82 and 83 are formed integrally protruding on the outersurface 55 of the resilient wall 51. These three projections aresymmetrically distributed around this tubular portion 40 with respect tothe axis 50, i.e. at 120 from each other on the periphery of the surface55. As best seen on FIG. 3 in a cross section by a plane perpendicularto axis 50 each of them is formed by a local thickness increase or bulgein the wall 51 at three locations around the tubular portion 40. Theradius of curvature of the cylindrical surface 55 is substantiallylarger than the radius of curvature of the projections 81, 82 and 83.

Looking now at FIG. 4, it will be observed that the projections 81, 82and 83 extend only through a fraction of the distance between thesurface 38 and the flange 73 in a direction parallel to axis 50. Asclearly seen for projection 82 on FIG. 4, these projections have asubstantially rectilinear profile parallel to the axis 50 and aclearance is provided between side face 84 of projection 82 and oppositesurface 38 of the arm 30. On the other side of the projection 82 a bareannular space 85 is left at the outer surface 55 of the wall 51 betweenthe side face 86 of projection 82 and the surface 74 of flange 73opposite thereto. The width of said annular space 85 or extent thereofin the direction of axis 50 is sufficient to accommodate a retainingflange in the opening 90 of the housing'91 as explained later. As shownin FIG. 4, the surface 86 is outwardly inclined by about 120 on the axis50 to form a ramp between the surface 55 and the top surface ofprojection 82. The other projections 81 and 83 are constructed in thesame fashion as projection 82 just described with reference to FIG. 4.In particular, the junction lines between the side faces such as 84 andthe wall 51 are circumferentially aligned on the surface 55 andsimilarly the junctions between the side faces such as 86 and the wall51 are aligned along a common circumference along the surface 55, i.e.,are all located in a common geometrical plane perpendicular to the axis50.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the slots 64, 65 and 66 have a somewhat greatercircumferential length than the projections 81, 82 and 83. Eachprojection 81, 82 and 83 has the same symmetry plane containing axis 50as a corresponding one of the slots 64, 65 and 66 in the direction ofthe axis 50. In other words when looking at the arm end 36 from the freeend 70 of tubular portion 40 as illustrated by FIG. 3 (section 3-3 ofFIG. 2) each projection appears located opposite the central section ofa corresponding slot, the respective peripheral dimensions of slot andprojections being in this case such that each slot encompasses thecorrespond ing projection. To each projection thus corresponds anextension 51' of the wall 51. The tubular portion 41 extending at theend 37 of arm 31 has an identical configuration and construction as thatof portion 40.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown the opening 90 formed inthe side wall 18 of the housing 1 with its symmetry axis on axis alreadydefined in relation to the assembly of FIG. 1. As stated earlier thisopening 90 receives the tubular portion 40 of the arm 30 in the mountedassembly of FIG. 1 and it will be understood that another identicalopening not seen is provided along axis 50 in the opposite side wall 19of the casing for receiving the tubular portion 41 of arm 31 thuscompleting the coupling means between the housing 1 and handle 2. Ahollow circular rib 92 is integrally formed at the outer surface of theside wall 18, overlapping the rib 20 and slightly thicker. The opening90 extends from annular flat brim 98 of said circular rib 92 through theentire wall 18 inside of housing 1 where it opens into a coaxial innercavity 95 of larger diameter defined by a cylindrical inner wall surface91 in the inward face of wall 18. Toward the outer side of the wall 18the opening 90 consists of a cavity 99 bounded by a generally circularcoaxial undulated wall surface 93, extending up to the brim 98 of thecircular rib 92 as best seen in FIG. 6 and having generatrix linesparallel to the axis 50 as shown by FIG. 5.

The cavities 95 and 99 form two portions of the opening 90 which aredelimited by a coaxial inner flange 941 projecting radially inwardlyfrom the wall 18 between cavities 95 and 99. Two longitudinallysupporting ribs 96 and 97 are shown on the inner face of wall 18 oneither side of opening 90 which are designed for securing the operatingparts of the instrument within the housing (FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 6 the undulated surface 93 is constituted by a seriesof alternate lobes 100 and recesses 101 having its axis of symmetry at50. The innermost portions or tops 102 of the lobes 100 are alltangential to a circle centered on axis 50 and having a radius slightlylarger than the radius of outer surface of the resilient wall 51 of thetubular portion 40 to let the free end thereof travel through cavity 99without substantial friction of the terminal flange 73 against thesurface 93. The radius of this circle is however smaller than thedistance from the axis 50 to the outermost surface of each ofprojections 81, 82 or 83 of tubular portion 40 (see FIG. 6). The bottomsof recesses 101 separating adjacent lobes 100 are rounded and thetransition surface sections between the successive lobes and recessesprovide a fairly smoothly and continuously undulated profile for surface93. The recesses 101 are designed and shaped to receive the projectionsor detents recesses 101 distributed around the undulated surface 93 sothat one out of four recesses 101 may accommodate a different one of thethree projections 8183 when the tubular portion 40 is engaged in openingand each of these filled recesses tends to lock the projection thereinagainst rotation without substantially, radially deforming the wall 51of portion 40, both transition surface sections on the sides of eachrecess providing stops for the corresponding projection.

Returning to FIG. 5, the flange 94 has two opposed lateral side faces104 and 105 respectively facing outside and inside the housing 1. Theseside faces 104 and 105 project in the opening 90 perpendicularly to theaxis and are bounded inwardly by an inner cylindrical surface 106centered on axis 50. The radius of this cylindrical inner surface 106 isjust sufflciently larger than that of outer surface 55 of the tubularportion 40 on the handle. to let the annular space 85 adjacent the freeend of this portion 40 pass through the flange and rotate freely withininner surface 106 thereof. The radius of this surface 106 is in thepresent example slightly smaller than the distance from axis 50 to theinnermost portion 102 of the lobes 100 of the undulated surface 93 ascan best be seen by profile of flange inner surface 106 on FIG. 6 whichis not quite tangential to the innermost portions 102 of the lobes 100.The radius of this flange inner surface 106 also is smaller than thedistance from the axis 50 to the outermost surface of projections 81, 82and 83 so that the side faces 86 of the row of projections would abutagainst side face 104 of the flange 94 upon engagement of tubularportion 40 into opening 90 further than in the position of FIG. 5.Lastly, the radius of inner flange surface 106 is also smaller than theradius of the crestline 73 of the retaining flange 73 on portion 40, butslightly greater than that of the terminal portion of frustoconicalflange surface so that when the portion 40 is introduced into theopening 90, the frustoconical flange surface 75 first abuts against theside face 104 of the flange 94, then upon exerting sufficient inwardforce can overcome the obstacle created by flange 94 by elastic inwarddeformation of the flange 73 on resilient tubular portion 40 to emergeinto cavity 95 (FIG. 5) which has greater diameter than that ofcrestline 73' and wherein flange 73 recovers its original shape. In thisposition, the bare annular space of outer surface 55 of wall 51 restswithin the cylindrical inner surface 106 of flange 94 which throttlesthe opening between cavities and 99 as seen on FIG. 5 which shows thetubular portion 40 of arm 30 engaged in the opening 90 in the casing l.

The thickness of flange 94 in axial direction is practically equal tothe width of the annular bare space 85 on surface 55 extending betweenthe faces 86 of the projections 81, 82 and 83 on one hand and the baseof the inclined surface 74 of the retaining flange 73 on the other hand.In the position shown in FIG. 5 relative movement of the tubular portion40 and the housing 1 parallel to the axis 50 is substantially preventedin either direction. In this position, the flat face 38 of arm 30 abutsagainst brim 98 of rib 92, and surface 74 abuts against side face 105 offlange 94 preventing the arm 30 from being normally pulled out ofengagement in the housing 1. Due to the sharp inclination of surface 74on the outer cylindrical surface 55, which may be in the order of 45, amuch stronger pull would be necessary to disengage the free end 70 fromthe retaining action of flange 94 in order to withdraw portion 40 fromopening 90 than to insert it into retaining engagement therein byforcing frustoconical surface 75 which is inclined by about 30 only onaxis 50 through the throttling flange 93 as explained earlier.

As explained before, when the arm 30 is being mounted to the housinginto the position illustrated by FIG. 5, by introducing the tubularportion 40 all the way through the opening 90, each of the projections81, 82 and 83 of the tubular portion 40 can be laterally inserted into adifferent one of the twelve recesses 101 by proper selection of theangular position of the arm 30 relative to the housing 1. Theprojections 8]83 received in respective recesses 101 tend to hold thearm against rotation relative to the housing, while relative outwardaxial movement is prevented as explained above. If a torque is appliedto rotate the arm 30 with respect to the housing these projections tendto be driven against the transition surface sections bounding the recessto climb along the adjacent lobe 100 and to come out of the respectiverecesses 101 wherein they are lodged. As the distance between the axis50 and the innermost surface 102 of lobes 100 is smaller than thedistance between the axis 50 and the outermost surfaces of theseprojections 80, 81 and 82 such rotation can only be achieved uponapplication of a sufflcient torque to press the projections 81-83inwardly substantially radially causing elastic deformation of the thinresilient wall 51. This inward deformation results from a camming actionupon relative movement of projections 81-83 and lobes 100. Thedeformation reaches a maximum when the top surfaces of projections 81-83and lobes 100 are opposite and then decreases upon continuing rotationwhile the deformed wall 51 tends to resiliently displace the projectionsoutwardly thus snapping them into a recess 101 next to the one they justleft wherein they recover their initial radial position. Due to thesuitable shaping and dimensioning of the recesses 101 with respect tothe arcuate projections, once the projections are received in theserecesses they tend to remain in this position substantially without playto retain the arm 30 against movement of rotation with respect to thehousing as long as a torque of magnitude greater than a given thresholdhas not been applied thereto. As stated, rotation about axis 50 is theonly movement permitted to the arm 30 relative to the housing 1 byvirtue of the particular mounting just described. I

The provision of three symmetrical projections results in more uniformdistribution of stresses with the cylindrical wall 51 upon rotating thehandle 2 and better centering of the tubular portion within opening 90.It should be observed that while the tubular portion 40 is rotated withconsequent depressing of the projections 81-83, the bare annular spaceportion 85 of outer surface 55 may occasionally bear against the innercy lindrical surface 106 offlange 94 thus providing some additionalguidance to the rotating movement of portion 40.

What has just been explained with reference to arm 30 also applies toarm 31 and thus to the handle 2 which can be set in a plurality ofdiscrete positions with respect to the housing and required a giventorque to be switched from one position to the next. As there are twelverecesses in each of the openings in the housing side walls 18 and ,19,the handle can take theoretically twelve different angular positionsrelative to the housing. In one of these positions the handle arms 30and 31 extend parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the housing withthe bar 35 opposite the front panel 11 in a position suitable forcarrying the instrument. By tilting the handle so as to move the bar 35underneath the plane of the bottom wall plate 17 a variety of positionsmay be found where the instrument is supported as illustrated in anddescribed with reference to FIG. 1.

It will be recalled here that the slots 6466 provide wall portions 51'having good flexibility as extensions of the resilient wall portion 51within the arm end 36, each of these wall portions 51 being opposite arespective projection 81-83. The provision of these slots improves thebending ability of the wall 51 around each projection 8183. Thethickness of the wall 51 for a given plastic material out of which thehandle is made and the dimensions of the slots 64-66 are selected so asto adjust the stiffness of the wall 51 around the projections to enablerotation of the handle with respect to the housing without necessitatingan unduly great effort from an operator manipulating the handle (suchhandle acting as a lever) on the one hand and to obtain a retainingforce in each discrete tilted position of the handle where theprojections 8183 are engaged in respective recesses which is sufficientto support the instrument. In particular, when the instrument is laiddown on a horizontal surface with its rear part resting on this surfaceand its front part supported by the handle set at an angle with respectto the housing convenient for the operator (FIG. 1), the retaining forceprovided by the resilientwall 51 to resist forces pressing down theprojections 81 through 83 as a result of the torque exerted on thehandle by the instruments own weight must be sufficient to prevent saidhandle from rotating and the instrument stand from collapsing.

The housing and handle may be moulded, the handle being one pieceincluding all elements described for the handle bar 35, arms 30, 31 andtubular portions 40 and 41. The corresponding parts of the couplingmeans in and around openings such as 90 are all integral with thehousing 1. The handle 2 can be very easily mounted in assembly with thehousing by simply snapping each of the tubular portions 40 and 41 intothe respective coaxial openings in the side walls 18 and 19. Theslightly conical shape of the closure wall 71 facilitates immedi-' atecorrect positioning of the free end 70 in the outer entrance of opening90 before pushing the end 36 or 37 of the respective arms inwardly toengage the flange 73 within cavity 99. Due to the frustoconical shape ofthe surface 75 at the free end 70 of each of these annular portions 40and 41, the retaining flange 73 can then be forced through therestricted opening defined by the inner surface 106 of flange 94 andowing to the resiliency of the material forming portions 40 and 41 bedriven through such restricted opening to the position depicted in FIG.5. Once in this position it is difficult to remove the tubular portions40 and 41 from their respective coupling engagement within cavities 90in the housing. The inclined surface 74 of the retaining flanges 73engaged against the shoulder provided by side face 105 of the flange 94can help in resiliently maintaining the flat inner faces 38 of the arm30 at the respective end 36 thereof in tight engagement against the flatbrim 98 at the entrance of opening 91) upon snapping the retainingflange 73 through the flange 941. Thus axial play of the arm ends is notpermitted in either direction along axis 50. The tight engagement of thearms inner face 38 against the brim 98 somewhat protects the rotatablecoupling against entry of foreign matters inside the casing and theclosure wall 71 also prevents such entries inside the housing by closingone end of the cavity 52 which as will be recalled has its end 54 openadjacent the lateral face 39 of the arm.

it should be noted here that due to the resilient nature of the materialwith which the handle 2 is manufactured the arms 30 and 31 of thishandle can be easily moved apart at the mounting stage to bring theirrespective tubular portions 40 and 41 in front of the respectivecavities in the sides 18 and 19 of the housing. The arms can be thenpushed back inwardly with respect to each other in order to force thesetubular portions in engagement with the housing as explained above.

Accordingly it will be apparent that a portable instrument has beenprovided having a housing and a handle rotatably secured to said housingby a coupling of very simple construction and requiring a minimum numberof parts. As explained the various parts of this coupling can beintegrally formed with either the handle or the housing and the assemblyof the handle and housing can be readily made by simple engagement ofone with the other without any need for an intermediate part. Accordingto the invention, this particular coupling not only provides a rotatableconnection between the handle and the housing but also one which permitsto maintain the handle at a desired angle in various discrete positionswith respect to the housing without the need for additional adjustmentsuch as by tightening a screw or the like, particularly with a view touse this handle as a supporting leg for the instrument standing on ahorizontal surface. Also, in addition to providing inexpensive and easyto manufacture means to achieve such a connection, the inventionprovides means previously disclosed for making optimum use of theresiliency of the material which can be used for making the couplingparts and more specifically to adjust the degree of stiffness by whichsaid handle is retained in its various positions with respect to saidhousing.

While a preferred embodiment has been previously described to illustratethe invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications can be made therein without departingfrom the spirit thereof.

1 claim:

1. A portable instrument comprising:

a housing member for receiving operating parts of said instrument; agenerally U-shaped handle member for carrying and supporting saidinstrument in a standing position on a surface, said handle memberhaving two cantilevered arm portions; and means mounted adjacent theextremity of each arm portion for coupling said handle and housingmembers for relative rotation therebetween about an axis, at least oneof the coupling means including a resilient tubular element, radiallyinwardly yieldable, generally centered on said axis and projecting fromone of said members,

the other of said members including at least one generally circularinternal wall centered on said axis and defining an opening in'whichsaid tubular element is received and bears against said internal wallfor rotation about said axis, and

means for releasably locking said handle member on said housing memberin at least one housingsupporting position, including an outwardlyprojecting section at the outer periphery of said resilient tubularelement and a camming surface section adjacent to a recessed section atthe inner periphery of said internal wall,

the distance from said axis to the outermost surface of said projectingsection being greater than the distance from said axis to said cammingsurface section of said internal wall adjacent to said recessed section,

said projecting section being received in said recessed section to bearagainst said camming surface section in said at least onehousingsupporting position for locking said tubular element againstrotation with respect to said internal wall when said tubular element issubjected to a relative torque smaller than a given value, in onedirection from said at least one housing-supporting position, and

said projecting section being cammed inwardly into said resilienttubular element by deformation thereof when forced against said cammingsurface section upon said tubular element being subjected to a relativetorque greater than said given value to disengage said projectingsection from said recessed section in said one direction and to shiftsaid handle and housing members from said at least one housingsupportingposition to another relative position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resilient tubular element isintegral with and projects from said handle member and said opening isdefined in a side portion of said housing member.

3. The portable instrument of claim 1 wherein said resilient tubularelement is connected to said one member by means of at least oneconnecting portion extending over only a fraction of the periphery ofsaid resilient tubular element to leave a clearance between saidresilient tubular element and said one member, which clearance issubstantially aligned with said outwardly projecting section parallel tothe direction of said axis.

4. The portable instrument of claim 3 wherein one end of said tubularelement is open adjacent to said one member and said clearance, and theother end of said tubular element away from said one member is closed byan integral wall transverse to said axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tubular element has asubstantially circular cross section, said outwardly projecting sectionis one of a series of external arcuate projections circumferentiallydistributed at the outer periphery of said tubular element, and saidcamming surface section is one of a plurality of inwardly directed lobesspaced about said opening at the periphery of said internal wall andseparated by arcuate recesses one of which includes said adjacentrecessed section, each one of said arcuate projections being received inone of said arcuate recesses in said at least one housingsupportingposition of said handle and housing members.

6. The portable instrument of claim 5, further comprising:

an annular retaining flange adjacent a free end of said tubular elementaway from said one member, having a first inclined side face of taperingcross section toward said free end and a second side face facing saidone member in the opposite direction;

an annular space at the outer surface of said tubular element betweensaid retaining flange and said plu- 5 rality of arcuate projectionsaround said tubular element; and

a shoulder defined by said internal wall around said opening andengaging the second side face of said retaining flange to preventwithdrawal of said tubular element from said opening, the diameter ofsaid opening at said shoulder being smaller than the maximum diameter ofthe first side of said retaining flange but larger than the minimumdiameter thereof, whereby said tubular element can be mounted by forcingthe free end thereof through said opening upon resilient deformation ofsaid flange for passing said shoulder.

7. The portable instrument of claim 6 wherein said handle and housingmembers have respective opposite surfaces engageable for limiting axialpenetration of said tubular element into said opening, and said secondface of said retaining flange is inclined at an obtuse angle on thesurface of said annular space for resiliently engaging said shoulderonce the first inclined surface of said flange has passed said shoulderto urge said opposite engageable surfaces in mutual contact wherebyaxial relative movement of said members is prevented.

8. A portable instrument comprising a housing member for enclosingoperating parts of the instrument, a handle member having two joined armportions for carrying the instrument and supporting it in a standingposition on a bearing surface, and means adjacent the extremities ofsaid arm portions for coupling said handle and housing members forrelative rotation about an axis comprising:

at least one resilient tubular wall projecting from one of said membersand integral therewith, generally centered on said axis;

mounting means for substantially preventing relative axial movement inat least one direction between said tubular wall and the other of saidmembers while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis;and

interlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and said other memberfor yieldably locking said handle and housing members against rotationin a plurality of relative angularly displaced locking positions,including a plurality of radially yieldable detent surface portionsspaced about said axis on said resilient tubular wall and a series ofsubstantially non-deformable spaced apart camming surface portionsdisposed about said axis on said other member opposite the surface ofsaid resilient tubular wall, with each one of said detent surfaceportions radially facing a section of said other member intermediate tworespective adjacent ones of said camming surface portions in each one ofsaid angu- 60 larly displaced locking positions,

said respective adjacent camming surface portions extending radially forproviding stops against angular displacement on either side of each oneof said detent surface portions facing said intermediate sections insaid angularly displaced locking positions to prevent relative rotationof said members when subjected to a relative torque smaller than a giventorque, and for camming and pressing radially said yieldable detentsurface portions by deforming said resilient wall when said detentsurface portions are brought opposite one of said respective adjacentcamming surface portions upon appli- Cation to said members in one ofsaid angularly displaced locking positions of a relative torque greaterthan said given torque to permit relative rotation thereof towardanother of said angularly displaced locking positions.

9. The instrument of claim 8'wherein said mounting means include aflange portion on said tubular wall having an inclined side facetapering toward the end of said tubular wall opposite said one memberand an opposite side face, and an internal wall in said other memberdefining an opening centered on said axis in which said tubular wallportion is rotatably received, and said internal wall forming a shoulderaround said opening for abutting against said opposite side face of saidflange portion to prevent withdrawal of said tubular wall from saidopening, the transverse dimension of said opening being intermediatebetween the maximum and minimum transverse dimensions of said inclinedside face of said flange portion so as to permit introduction of saidtubular wall portion into said opening by forcing said inclined sideface through said opening past said shoulder upon elastic deformation ofsaid flange portion on said resilient tubular wall.

10. The instrument of claim 8, wherein said radially yieldable detentsurface portions are inwardlyyieldable at the outer surface of saidresilient tubular wall and said camming surface portions are formedaround the inner periphery of a generally circular internal wallcentered on said axis and definingan opening in said other memberwherein said resilient tubular wall is received for rotation about saidaxis.

11. A portable instrument comprising:

a housing for receiving operating parts of the instrument;

a monolithic U-shaped handle of a resilient material coupled to saidhousing for hand carrying the instrument and for providing a stand forthis instrument on a flat surface, said handle having first and secondarms and a bar connecting said arms at one end thereof; and

means for coupling said handle to said housing for rotation relativethereto about a common axis comprising: first and second tubularportions respectively projecting inwardly of said arms adjacent theother ends thereof in axial coalignment, each of said tubular portionsincluding:

a generally cylindrical coaxial resilient wall having one open end, anda free end away from said respective arm,

I a plurality of separate connecting portions for connecting saidcylindrical wall to said respective arm, said connecting portionsdistributed around the periphery of said cylindrical wall adjacent theopen end thereof, and separated by arcuate slots leaving a clearancebetween said cylindrical wall and said arm,

an integral wall closing said free end,

a first coaxial retaining flange projecting outwardly of the surface ofsaid cylindrical wall at the free end thereof, said first retainingflange having one side face facing toward said respee- LII tive arm andan opposed side face tapering toward said free end, and

a series of external arcuate projections distributed circumferentiallyaround said cylindrical wall intermediate said first retaining flangeand said respective arm, each of said arcuate projections being inalignment with one of said arcuate slots in the direction of said axis;said housing having first and second concentric cavities formed thereinwhich are defined by two respective coaxial internal housing wallsurfaces against each of which a respective one of said first and secondtubular portions bears for rotation about said axis; camming surfacesections on each of said wall surfaces separated by arcuate recessesformed therein, the recesses being shaped to accommodate saidprojections on said respective cylindrical wall and the distance fromsaid axis to the outermost surface of each of said projections beinggreater than the distance from said axis to said camming surfacesections, whereby said projections are pressed inwardly within a sectionof said resilient cylindrical wall aligned with a corresponding one ofsaid slots when opposite said camming surface sections of said internalhousing wall surface, and are displaced outwardly when opposite saidrecesses to lock the handle against rotation in at least onehousingsupporting position; and second flange on each of said internalwall surfaces radially projecting within the respective cavity andhaving two opposed lateral faces, one oriented toward said cammingsurface sections and recesses and the other facing inside said housing,and a circular concentric inner wall surface opposite a portion of saidrespective cylindrical resilient wall confined between said series ofarcuate projections and said first retaining flange;

each of said arms abutting axially inwardly against said housing forlimiting the penetration of the respective tubular portion within saidrespective cavity and said one side face of said respective firstretaining flange abutting axially outwardly against said lateral face ofsaid respective second flange facing inside said housing for preventingwithdrawal of said respective tubular portion from said respectivecavity; and

the maximum outer diameter of said opposed tapering side face of eachsaid first retaining flange being greater than the diameter of saidinner wall surface of said corresponding second flange and decreasing toa value less than the diameter of said inner wall surface toward saidfree end of said respective cylindrical wall whereby the correspondingarm of said handle can be mounted in said housing by forcing said firstretaining flange at the free end of said resilient cylindrical wallthrough said inner wall surface of said second flange upon resilientdeformation of said first retaining flange.

12. A portable instrument comprising a housing member for enclosingoperating parts of the instrument, a handle member having two joined armportions for carrying the instrument and supporting it in a standingposition on a bearing surface, and means adjacent the extremities ofsaid arm portions for coupling said handle and housing members forrelative rotation about an axis comprising:

at least one resilient tubular wall projecting from one of said membersand integral therewith, generally centered on said axis;

mounting means for substantially preventing relative axial movement inat least one direction between said tubular wall and the other of saidmembers while permitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis,said mounting means including a flange portion on said tubular wallhaving an inclined side face tapering toward the end of said tubularwall opposite said one member and an opposite side face, and

an internal wall in said other member defining an opening centered onsaid axis in which said tubular wall portion is rotatably received, saidinternal wall forming a shoulder around said opening for abuttingagainst said opposite side face of said flange portion to preventwithdrawal of said tubular wall from said opening, the transversedimension of said opening being intermediate between the maximum andminimum transverse dimensions of said inclined side face of said flangeportion so as to permit introduction of said tubular wall portion intosaid opening by forcing said inclined side face through said openingbeyond said shoulder upon elastic deformation of said flange portion onsaid resilient tubular wall; and

interlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and said other memberfor yieldably locking said handle and housing members against rotationin at least one housing-supporting position, including at least onesubstantially radially yieldable detent surface portion on saidresilient tubular wall and at least one camming surface portion on saidother member for providing a stop for said detent surface portion insaid housing-supporting position to prevent relative rotation of saidmembers when subjected to a relative torque smaller than a given torque,and for pressing said yieldable detent surface portion by substantiallyradially deforming said resilient wall upon application of a relativetorque to said members greater than said given torque to permit relativerotation thereof.

13. A portable apparatus housing for coupling to a rotatable handlelockable in at least one angular position with respect to the housingfor providing a stand for the apparatus on a flat surface, comprising ahollow housing body including two sidewalls on opposite sides thereof,said sidewalls respectively having inner and outer faces and internalwalls formed therebetween, said internal walls defining two respectivegenerally circular bores through said sidewalls, centered on a commonaxis and adapted for rotatably receiving a journal portion of thehandle, each said internal wall comprising: a first cylindrical wallsection of undulated transverse cross section terminated at one endthereof by a plane edge section on the outer face of the respectivesidewall of the hollow housing body, said first wall section defining aseries of inwardly projecting lobes separated by arcuate recessesdistributed on said first wall section around said axis; and a secondcylindrical wall section of circular transverse cross section centeredon said axis, having one end thereof adjacent to said first section andterminated at the other end thereof by a circular shoulder section onthe inner face of said re-. spective sidewall, the radius of said secondwall section being smaller than the radial extent of the outermostsurface of said arcuate recesses, whereby a substantially U-shapedhandle having two arms with two respective inwardly directed cylindricaljournal portions adjacent the end thereof, each journal portionterminated by a retaining flange at one free end thereof and includingat least one surface section projecting outwardly on the journal portionand shaped to be received in said arcuate recesses, can be rotatablycoupled to said housing body by forcing the retaining flange of thejournal portions thereof through a respective one of said bores beyondsaid shoulder section and can be locked with respect to said housing inone of a plurality of angularly adjustable positions upon insertion ofthe aforementioned outwardly projecting section in a corresponding oneof said arcuate recesses.

1. A portable instrument comprising: a housing member for receivingoperating parts of said instrument; a generally U-shaped handle memberfor carrying and supporting said instrument in a standing position on asurface, said handle member having two cantilevered arm portions; andmeans mounted adjacent the extremity of each arm portion for couplingsaid handle and housing members for relative rotation therebetween aboutan axis, at least one of the coupling means including a resilienttubular element, radially inwardly yieldable, generally centered on saidaxis and projecting from one of said members, the other of said membersincluding at least one generally circular internal wall centered on saidaxis and defining an opening in which said tubular element is receivedand bears against said internal wall for rotation about said axis, andmeans for releasably locking said handle member on said housing memberin at least one housing-supporting position, including an outwardlyprojecting section at the outer periphery of said resilient tubularelement and a camming surface section adjacent to a recessed section atthe inner periphery of said internal wall, the distance from said axisto the outermost surface of said projecting section being greater thanthe distance from said axis to said camming surface section of saidinternal wall adjacent to said recessed section, said projecting sectionbeing received in said recessed section to bear against said cammingsurface section in said at least one housing-supporting position forlocking said tubular element against rotation with respect to saidinternal wall when said tubular element is subjected to a relativetorque smaller than a given value, in one direction from said at leastone housing-supporting position, and said projecting section beingcammed inwardly into said resilient tubular element by deformationthereof when forced against said camming surface section upon saidtubular element being subjected to a relative torque greater than saidgiven value to disengage said projecting section from said recessedsection in said one direction and to shift said handle and housingmembers from said at least one housingsupporting position to anotherrelative position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resilienttubular element is integral with and projects from said handle memberand said opening is defined in a side portion of said housing member. 3.The portable instrument of claim 1 wherein said resilient tubularelement is connected to said one member by means of at least oneconnecting portion extending over only a fraction of the periphery ofsaid resilient tubular element to leave a clearance between saidresilient tubular element and said one member, which clearance issubstantially aligned with said outwardly projecting section parallel tothe direction of said axis.
 4. The portable instrument of claim 3wherein one end of said tubular element is open adjacent to said onemember and said clearance, and the other end of said tubular elementaway from said one member is closed by an integral wall transverse tosaid axis.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tubular element hasa substantially circular cross section, said outwardly projectingsection is one of a series of external arcuate projectionscircumferentially distributed at the outer periphery of said tubularelement, and said camming surface section is one of a plurality ofinwardly directed lobes spaced about said opening at the periphery ofsaid internal wall and separated by arcuate recesses one of whichincludes said adjacent recessed section, each one of said arcuateprojections being received in one of said arcuate recesses in said atleast one housing-supporting position of said handle and housingmembers.
 6. The portable instrument of claim 5, further comprising: anannular retaining flange adjacent a free end of said tubular elementaway from said one member, having a first inclined side face of taperingcross section toward said free end and a second side face facing saidone member in the opposite direction; an annular space at the outersurface of said tubular element between said retaining flange and saidplurality of arcuate projections around said tubular element; and ashoulder defined by said internal wall around said opening and engagingthe second side face of said retaining flange to prevent withdrawal ofsaid tubular element from said opening, the diameter of said opening atsaid shoulder being smaller than the maximum diameter of the first sideof said retaining flange but larger than the minimum diameter thereof,whereby said tubular element can be mounted by forcing The free endthereof through said opening upon resilient deformation of said flangefor passing said shoulder.
 7. The portable instrument of claim 6 whereinsaid handle and housing members have respective opposite surfacesengageable for limiting axial penetration of said tubular element intosaid opening, and said second face of said retaining flange is inclinedat an obtuse angle on the surface of said annular space for resilientlyengaging said shoulder once the first inclined surface of said flangehas passed said shoulder to urge said opposite engageable surfaces inmutual contact whereby axial relative movement of said members isprevented.
 8. A portable instrument comprising a housing member forenclosing operating parts of the instrument, a handle member having twojoined arm portions for carrying the instrument and supporting it in astanding position on a bearing surface, and means adjacent theextremities of said arm portions for coupling said handle and housingmembers for relative rotation about an axis comprising: at least oneresilient tubular wall projecting from one of said members and integraltherewith, generally centered on said axis; mounting means forsubstantially preventing relative axial movement in at least onedirection between said tubular wall and the other of said members whilepermitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis; andinterlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and said other memberfor yieldably locking said handle and housing members against rotationin a plurality of relative angularly displaced locking positions,including a plurality of radially yieldable detent surface portionsspaced about said axis on said resilient tubular wall and a series ofsubstantially non-deformable spaced apart camming surface portionsdisposed about said axis on said other member opposite the surface ofsaid resilient tubular wall, with each one of said detent surfaceportions radially facing a section of said other member intermediate tworespective adjacent ones of said camming surface portions in each one ofsaid angularly displaced locking positions, said respective adjacentcamming surface portions extending radially for providing stops againstangular displacement on either side of each one of said detent surfaceportions facing said intermediate sections in said angularly displacedlocking positions to prevent relative rotation of said members whensubjected to a relative torque smaller than a given torque, and forcamming and pressing radially said yieldable detent surface portions bydeforming said resilient wall when said detent surface portions arebrought opposite one of said respective adjacent camming surfaceportions upon application to said members in one of said angularlydisplaced locking positions of a relative torque greater than said giventorque to permit relative rotation thereof toward another of saidangularly displaced locking positions.
 9. The instrument of claim 8wherein said mounting means include a flange portion on said tubularwall having an inclined side face tapering toward the end of saidtubular wall opposite said one member and an opposite side face, and aninternal wall in said other member defining an opening centered on saidaxis in which said tubular wall portion is rotatably received, and saidinternal wall forming a shoulder around said opening for abuttingagainst said opposite side face of said flange portion to preventwithdrawal of said tubular wall from said opening, the transversedimension of said opening being intermediate between the maximum andminimum transverse dimensions of said inclined side face of said flangeportion so as to permit introduction of said tubular wall portion intosaid opening by forcing said inclined side face through said openingpast said shoulder upon elastic deformation of said flange portion onsaid resilient tubular wall.
 10. The instrument of claim 8, wherein saidradially yieldable detent surface portions are inwardly yIeldable at theouter surface of said resilient tubular wall and said camming surfaceportions are formed around the inner periphery of a generally circularinternal wall centered on said axis and defining an opening in saidother member wherein said resilient tubular wall is received forrotation about said axis.
 11. A portable instrument comprising: ahousing for receiving operating parts of the instrument; a monolithicU-shaped handle of a resilient material coupled to said housing for handcarrying the instrument and for providing a stand for this instrument ona flat surface, said handle having first and second arms and a barconnecting said arms at one end thereof; and means for coupling saidhandle to said housing for rotation relative thereto about a common axiscomprising: first and second tubular portions respectively projectinginwardly of said arms adjacent the other ends thereof in axialcoalignment, each of said tubular portions including: a generallycylindrical coaxial resilient wall having one open end, and a free endaway from said respective arm, a plurality of separate connectingportions for connecting said cylindrical wall to said respective arm,said connecting portions distributed around the periphery of saidcylindrical wall adjacent the open end thereof, and separated by arcuateslots leaving a clearance between said cylindrical wall and said arm, anintegral wall closing said free end, a first coaxial retaining flangeprojecting outwardly of the surface of said cylindrical wall at the freeend thereof, said first retaining flange having one side face facingtoward said respective arm and an opposed side face tapering toward saidfree end, and a series of external arcuate projections distributedcircumferentially around said cylindrical wall intermediate said firstretaining flange and said respective arm, each of said arcuateprojections being in alignment with one of said arcuate slots in thedirection of said axis; said housing having first and second concentriccavities formed therein which are defined by two respective coaxialinternal housing wall surfaces against each of which a respective one ofsaid first and second tubular portions bears for rotation about saidaxis; camming surface sections on each of said wall surfaces separatedby arcuate recesses formed therein, the recesses being shaped toaccommodate said projections on said respective cylindrical wall and thedistance from said axis to the outermost surface of each of saidprojections being greater than the distance from said axis to saidcamming surface sections, whereby said projections are pressed inwardlywithin a section of said resilient cylindrical wall aligned with acorresponding one of said slots when opposite said camming surfacesections of said internal housing wall surface, and are displacedoutwardly when opposite said recesses to lock the handle againstrotation in at least one housing-supporting position; and a secondflange on each of said internal wall surfaces radially projecting withinthe respective cavity and having two opposed lateral faces, one orientedtoward said camming surface sections and recesses and the other facinginside said housing, and a circular concentric inner wall surfaceopposite a portion of said respective cylindrical resilient wallconfined between said series of arcuate projections and said firstretaining flange; each of said arms abutting axially inwardly againstsaid housing for limiting the penetration of the respective tubularportion within said respective cavity and said one side face of saidrespective first retaining flange abutting axially outwardly againstsaid lateral face of said respective second flange facing inside saidhousing for preventing withdrawal of said respective tubular portionfrom said respective cavity; and the maximum outer diameter of saidopposed tapering side face of each said first retaining flange beinggreater than the diameter Of said inner wall surface of saidcorresponding second flange and decreasing to a value less than thediameter of said inner wall surface toward said free end of saidrespective cylindrical wall whereby the corresponding arm of said handlecan be mounted in said housing by forcing said first retaining flange atthe free end of said resilient cylindrical wall through said inner wallsurface of said second flange upon resilient deformation of said firstretaining flange.
 12. A portable instrument comprising a housing memberfor enclosing operating parts of the instrument, a handle member havingtwo joined arm portions for carrying the instrument and supporting it ina standing position on a bearing surface, and means adjacent theextremities of said arm portions for coupling said handle and housingmembers for relative rotation about an axis comprising: at least oneresilient tubular wall projecting from one of said members and integraltherewith, generally centered on said axis; mounting means forsubstantially preventing relative axial movement in at least onedirection between said tubular wall and the other of said members whilepermitting relative rotation therebetween about said axis, said mountingmeans including a flange portion on said tubular wall having an inclinedside face tapering toward the end of said tubular wall opposite said onemember and an opposite side face, and an internal wall in said othermember defining an opening centered on said axis in which said tubularwall portion is rotatably received, said internal wall forming ashoulder around said opening for abutting against said opposite sideface of said flange portion to prevent withdrawal of said tubular wallfrom said opening, the transverse dimension of said opening beingintermediate between the maximum and minimum transverse dimensions ofsaid inclined side face of said flange portion so as to permitintroduction of said tubular wall portion into said opening by forcingsaid inclined side face through said opening beyond said shoulder uponelastic deformation of said flange portion on said resilient tubularwall; and interlocking surface portions on said tubular wall and saidother member for yieldably locking said handle and housing membersagainst rotation in at least one housing-supporting position, includingat least one substantially radially yieldable detent surface portion onsaid resilient tubular wall and at least one camming surface portion onsaid other member for providing a stop for said detent surface portionin said housing-supporting position to prevent relative rotation of saidmembers when subjected to a relative torque smaller than a given torque,and for pressing said yieldable detent surface portion by substantiallyradially deforming said resilient wall upon application of a relativetorque to said members greater than said given torque to permit relativerotation thereof.
 13. A portable apparatus housing for coupling to arotatable handle lockable in at least one angular position with respectto the housing for providing a stand for the apparatus on a flatsurface, comprising a hollow housing body including two sidewalls onopposite sides thereof, said sidewalls respectively having inner andouter faces and internal walls formed therebetween, said internal wallsdefining two respective generally circular bores through said sidewalls,centered on a common axis and adapted for rotatably receiving a journalportion of the handle, each said internal wall comprising: a firstcylindrical wall section of undulated transverse cross sectionterminated at one end thereof by a plane edge section on the outer faceof the respective sidewall of the hollow housing body, said first wallsection defining a series of inwardly projecting lobes separated byarcuate recesses distributed on said first wall section around saidaxis; and a second cylindrical wall section of circular transverse crosssection centered on said axis, having one end thereof adjacent to Saidfirst section and terminated at the other end thereof by a circularshoulder section on the inner face of said respective sidewall, theradius of said second wall section being smaller than the radial extentof the outermost surface of said arcuate recesses, whereby asubstantially U-shaped handle having two arms with two respectiveinwardly directed cylindrical journal portions adjacent the end thereof,each journal portion terminated by a retaining flange at one free endthereof and including at least one surface section projecting outwardlyon the journal portion and shaped to be received in said arcuaterecesses, can be rotatably coupled to said housing body by forcing theretaining flange of the journal portions thereof through a respectiveone of said bores beyond said shoulder section and can be locked withrespect to said housing in one of a plurality of angularly adjustablepositions upon insertion of the aforementioned outwardly projectingsection in a corresponding one of said arcuate recesses.